UB Marathon

I decided to run the UB marathon this year. This was my first race ever and probably not a distance that most experts would recommend trying for a first race but I figured I wouldn't actually die from the experience I would only experience immense pain...besides, I have always been an all or nothing kind of person so I figured "why not?" and went for it.

Me and Miss Chicken get ready for the run. Miss Chicken rode in the comfort of my fanny pack next to my cell phone (in case I needed to call for a ride), a banana and some money, just in case. I chose 37 as my race number to represent my age for my first marathon. Greg and I walked down to the square at about 6:40 on June 4th. The race was suppose to start at 7:00 a.m. but...it is Mongolia.

Doesn't every marathon begin with a song by a Horsehead fiddler dressed in traditional Mongolian garb?

Sukhbaatar Square shortly before the race began. Barely visible is a Japanese man dressed in a red Power Ranger suit...he ran the entire race with a red hooded-mask on as well. I know this because he lapped me before the half-marathon turn around. Note to self; racing in a hero costume adds speed!

After five long hours, Frank and I headed towards the finish line. Since this was only the second marathon in UB, the organizers are still trying to figure it all out. For example, the roads were only partially closed for the first two hours or so. Since our route ran us out of town into the countryside, we were running back through buses, cars and large transportations trucks. All of the aide stations were closed down after the first three hours...no more water or the yummy half-bananas.

I haven't experienced such an intense effort since testing for my third degree black belt in karate. However, the pain I felt (mainly in my left knee) was like nothing I'd ever felt before. Years of karate definitely helped me focus through the pain, heat and ridiculousness of dodging traffic and the "boob grabbing" drunk at about mile 23.

It's important to note that it took me until about mile 21 to catch up with Frank (IT specialist at school) even though he did the "run nine minutes walk one minute" plan. I ran the first 20 miles non-stop then began a regime of jog-walk for the next three miles. The last three miles Frank and I walked together. I was slightly delirious when I hit the finish line but Greg was ready with a life saving Snickers bar and a bottle of water...good job honey!

Would I do it again? Hell yes, but I will most certainly try to be better trained. My longest training run was 13.1 miles. My heart was in it but UB pollution, shipping my treadmill to Bolivia and inclement weather made it challenging to train.